Knife sharpener



May 30, 1950 c. w. GOLDSTEIN 2,509,636

KNIFE SHARPENER Filed Aug. 15, 1947 kNVENTOR.

C HHRLES W, LQOLD-E "WE IN Patented May 30, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KNIFE SHARPENER Charles W. Goldstein, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Maurice H. Sacharow, Cleveland, Ohio 10 Claims.

In hand implements for sharpening knives, commonly there is inadequate take-up for the sharpening elements, or on the other hand, in devices in which these are supported in a flexible mounting, the pressure is permitted to be too variable, such as to occasion scalloping of knife edges repeatedly whetted on them. Also, insufficient guard structure has occasioned possibility of slippage, and injury to the hand of the operator. In accordance with the present invention, however, a construction may be had, in which the hand of the operator is thoroughly safeguarded against likelihood of injury in sharpening knives of various size and character. Also, uniformity of action may be had, by reason of the form of mounting. Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a construction embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on a plane indicated by line I[IIII, Fig. 1; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are front elevational views of modification forms.

In general, the construction provides a support and guard which rather completely surrounds the field of operation in knife-sharpening, and which, however, permits ready access to the abrading elements, for replacement or repair. And thus, the support for the sharpening or abrading elements may be in the form of a band 2, Fig. 1, and clamping means, as the clamps C, with take-up bolts 3 may grip the ends of the abrading elements 4. The latter may be in the form of file-bars or carborundum or other mineral abrasive sharpening elements, and in round or square cross section, as preferred in any given instance. The support band or guard band 2 connects with the clamping means 0 at each of its ends. Preferably, the support or guard 2 is of generally circular shape, so as to most conveniently fit the hollow of the operators hand, as held, for example, in the left hand with the thumb along the indent or recess portion 5, and the fingers along the indent or recess portion 6. Thus, the device may be held such that the clamping means C is generally directed away from the hollow of the operators hand which is holding the device, and the right hand may then manipulate the knife to be sharpened.

6 Preferably, the abrading elements 4 are mounted in X-relation, as seen clearly in Fig. 1. The support or guard band 2 is flexible, and preferably resilient or of spring material. If resilient, it allows of a latitude of adjustment of abrading element relation. And, where made of resilient or spring stock, the further function is added that the spring pressure determines the load placed upon the abrading elements and gives a more uniform action than if their pressure were controlled wholly by the pressure applied by the operators hand.

In operation, with the device preferably grasped as afore-indicated, the knife to be sharpened will preferably be inserted with its edge into the trough T. That is, the knife edge is directed away from the operators hand which is holding the device. Then, the knife is reciprocated back and forth in the trough T by the operators other hand, while the spring band 2 is allowed to exert its own pressure, as loosely held in the operators hand. It will be understood that at least three of the abrading bars are requisite, and preferably five, in order to give a balanced and uniform sharpening action as the knife blade is reciprocated back and forth in the abrading bar trough. If desired, instead of sharpening in the trough T, the knife may be inserted with its edge in the opposite trough T, and although the knife edge is then directed toward the hand which is holding the device, safety against accident is assured, inasmuch as the abrading elements and the guard are in protective intervention between the knife and the hand. As thus apparent, this mounting of the abrading elements gives in fact a double field of usage. Individual elements may be turned around, or be replaced, as at any time desired.

The indents or grip-recesses may also be formed larger and more extensive, as at 5, 6, Fig. 4.

In some cases, it is desirable to flange over the margin of the support or guard, as a flange extension 9, at each side, partly closing over the opening of the guard, while yet leaving ample space for insertion of the knife blades to be sharpened.

Certain advantages of the invention can also be realized if the abrading elements, instead of being mounted in fixed relation, be mounted in generally parallel relation as at l, Fig. 5. The abrading elements here abut at their free or inner ends, but thence slightly diverge sufficiently to allow insertion of a knife edge in the: trough T". Here, although the knife edge may be directed toward the hand holding the device, safety is assured because of the guard or support 2" intervening. In this form, again if the support band be of flexible material, compensation and adjustive positioning is assured. And if the supthe spring pressure thereof may be relied upon to apply suflicient pressure of the abrading elements against the knife, as the device is held loosely in the operators hand.

While the means for clamping or holding the abrading bars may involve a separate plate to cooperate with the end of the support or guard member, the bolts passing through both in positions between the abrading elements, as a further refinement the clamping means may preferably involve an integrally stamped-up holder, and thus the terminal portion iii of the support or guard member may be bent rightangularly to form a base i l and thence be again bent rightangularly to form an inner wall i2, and thence be again bent right-angularly to form a closure wall l3, the base H and the closure 53 having openings It, i5, through which the abrading bars may be inserted. The clamping bolts a then serve to draw the structure into tight holding relation against the abrading bars. The box-like clamping means is closed at each side by a further folded-over portion it. Such construction is simple in its formation, and light, yet outstandingl strong and in its holding relation.

In general, it is seen that a convenient mounting and support of abrading elements is had, such as to provide convenient troughshaped loci of contact between abrading elements and the knife edge to be sharpened, and in the various positions possible, safety is assured for the operators hand which is holding the device. If, as above noted, the support or guard be of spring material, additionally there is provided a desirably uniform pressure so far as the abrading elements are concerned, thereby minimizing tendencies to scalloping of knife edges.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the detail described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims, or the equivalent of such, be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In a hand implement for sharpening knives, opposed abrading bars, and combined holding and guard means for holding the bars by one end and leaving the other end free and surrounding at a spaced distance the free ends of the abrading bars with the said bars forming a sharpening trough for a knife-edge which is directed toward said means.

2. In a hand implement for sharpening knives, opposed abrading bars, and combined holding and guard means for holding the bars by one end and leaving the other end free and surrounding in spring extension at a spaced distance the free ends of the abrading bars with the said bars forming a sharpening trough for a knife-edge which is directed toward said means with the bars including a sharpening trough for a knife-edge which is directed toward said means in extension.

3. In a hand implement for sharpening knives, opposed abrading bars, and combined holding and guard means for holding the bars in X-relation by one end and leaving the other end free and surrounding at a spaced distance the free ends of the abrading bars, said means being flexible.

4. In a hand implement for sharpening knives, opposed abrading bars, and combined holding and guard means for holding the bars in X-relation by one end and leaving the other 4 end free and surrounding in spring extension at a spaced distance the free ends of the abrading bars.

5. In a hand implement for sharpening knives, opposed abrading bars, and combined holding and guard means for holding the bars by one end and leaving the other end free and surrounding at a spaced distance the free ends of the abrading bars with the bars including a sharpening trough for a knife-edge which is directed toward said means in extension, said support having in-turned flanges.

6. In a hand implement for sharpening knives, opposed abrading bars, and combined holding and guard means for holding the bars by one end and leaving the other end free and surrounding at a spaced distance the free ends of the abradin bars with the bars including a sharpening trough for a, knife-edge which is directed toward said means in extension, said support having hand grip indents and in turned flanges.

7. In a hand implement for sharpening knives, opposed abrading bars, and combined holding and guard means for holding the bars by one end and leaving the other end free, involving a portion engaging the abrading bars and a spring means portion in extension surrounding the bars at a spaced distance and applying pressure to the clamping means and abrading bars held thereby, with the bars including a sharpening trough for a knife-edge which is directed toward said spring means.

8. In a hand implement for sharpening knives, opposed abrading bars, and combined holding and guard means for holding the bars in X-relation by one end and leaving the other end free, involving a portion engaging the abrading bars and a spring means portion in extension therefrom surrounding the bars at a spaced distance and applying pressure to the clamping means and abrading bars held thereby, with the bars including a sharpening trough for a knifeedge which is directed toward said spring means.

9. In a hand implement for sharpening knives, opposed abrading bars, a flexible support strip, and clamping means at its ends for holding said bars including terminal portions successively bent right-angularly to a box-like form with openings to receive the bars, sideclosing portions, and clamping bolts between the bars.

10. In a hand implement for sharpening knives, opposed abrading bars, a spring sup port, and clamping means at its ends for holding said bars including terminal portions successively bent right-angularly to a box-like form with openings to receive the bars, sideclosing portions, and clamping bolts between the bars.

CHARLES W. REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 602,790 Williams 19, 1898 1,173,627 Whitcomb Feb. 29, .1916 2,030,161 Von Der Lippen Feb. 11, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 22,511 Great Britain Oct. 6, 1913 803,593 France July .15, 1936 120,872 Switzerland June 16. 1991 

